He said the Sarawak deputy chief minister made the decision to enable Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to be appointed as the party’s acting deputy president.

Abang Johari made the announcement at a media conference here after chairing a PBB Supreme Council meeting at PBB’s headquarters in Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya here.

He also announced that PBB had agreed with his proposal to appoint Bukit Sari assemblyman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as PBB acting deputy president to fill the post vacated by him (Abang Johari).

Based on the party’s constitution, he automatically became the party president upon his appointment as chief minister, Abang Johari said.

Abang Johari took his oath of office as Sarawak Chief Minister on Jan 13 after the fifth Chief Minister of Sarawak Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was also Tanjung Datu state assemblyman, died of heart complications on Jan 11.

He also clarified that Uggah and Awang Tengah could not be appointed directly as deputy presidents as the posts had to be decided through elections.

Abang Johari said PBB had its own way of grooming new leaders, which had clearly contributed to the well-being of the party as leaders were selected based on their wide experience and excellent network for the party’s continuity and excellence.

In this regard, he said the PBB election machinery for the Tanjung Datu by-election was in place and that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is also Santubong MP, had been appointed as its director.